Wire-straightening tool



F. L. CERVENKA. WlRE STRAIGHTENING TOOL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1918.

Patented J an. 27, 1920.

"nnrrnn tar-Ares PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. GERVENKA, OF GRANGER, TEXAS.

Application filed July .7, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. Gnnvnnxx, a cit'zen of the United States,and residentof Granger in the county of Williamson and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Wire-Straight eningTools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved devices for straightening wire, andparticularly for straightening wire that has been used for baling hay,so that the wire can be used again.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the abovecharacter which will efliciently and slidably grip the extremity of awire to be straightened, the same being capable of quick and easymanipulation and adapted to be anchored in a suitable way to givestrength and rigidity to the device, means being also provided toproject through an eye or loop formed in one end of the wire to bestraightened, so as to facilitate the straightening operation.

With the above objects and others in view, as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel featuresof construction and arrangement of part which will be more fullydescribed herein and set forth With particularity in the claimsappendedhereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisapplication, in which like reference characters indicate thecorresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 isa perspective view of my improved wire straightening tool.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in section, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, the boltand spring being shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved wire straightening toolincludes a clamp comprising a lower plate or jaw 10 having a curvedattaching end 11 provided with apertures 12 adapted for securing thestationary lower jaw 10 to a suitable bench or other support. The jaw 10is further provided with an opening 13 adjacent to its attaching end,adapted to receive an offset angular reduced extension 14 of an upper 0rpivoted jaW 15, the inner portion of Specification of Letters Patent.

VJIRE-STRAIGHTENING TOOL.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 245,320.

' which is inclined uownwardly as shown at 16 and adapted to contactwith the jaw 10 therebeneath. Said jaw 15 is also provided with oppositeextensions 17 depending from the portion 16 which contact with the jaw10, thus guiding the jaw 15 during the vertical movement thereof on thepivot 14, as will be hereinafter specified.

Both of the free ends of the jaws 10 and 15 are provided with inwardextensions or engaging portions 18 having broad and engaging faces 19provided with coacting notches 20 of varying sizes so as to adapt thedevice to use in holding or straightening wires of different gage. Thecoacting notches or recesses 20 are preferably made of angular formationand relatively shallow so as to receive wires therein, the notches beinglittle shali wer than the thickness of. the baling wire.

The jaws 10 and 15 are further provided with vertically alined openings20 receiving the threaded stem 21 therethrough, the threaded endprojecting through the opening in the lower jaw 10 and having a wing Inut or thumb nut threaded thereon with an intermediate washer 23, forsecuring the device in position and adjusting the tension of anextensible coil spring 24: mounted on the stem between the jaws.

The upper end of the stem projects through the opening in the upper jaw15, said latter jaw having an enlarged opening therethrough for thispurpose and also side depressions or recesses 24 on diametricallyopposite sides so as to receive and lock the cam end of a cam 25therein, when the engaging surfaces of the jaws are in clampingposition. The clamp further comprises the cam 25, formed at one end of alever or handle 26 which is pivoted as shown at 27 between the slottedupper end of the stem 21, the said slotted end being provided withbifurcations 28 for this purose.

p The operation of the device is as follows: The wire to bestraightened, providing it is not kinked too much or rusted through, isinserted between the engaging portions 19 of the jaws 10 and 15, withthe handle 26 forwardly displaced to permit separation of said jaws bythe action of the spring 24. The lever or handle 26 is then movedrearwardly to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the cam will thenforce the jaws together causing the engaging portions 19 thereof to fitthe wire, against the action of the spring 24. During this operation,the cam 25 will snap into the depressions 24 and securely lock thedevice in clampin position. The wire is so positioned that the loop 29thereof is adapted to project forwardly of the engaging portions of thejaws and a curved or cross pin 30 is inserted in said eye or loop andthe wire drawn through the jaws so as to straighten the same foreflicient use. It is also to be understood that the wires can bestraightened quickly and with facility, thereby permitting the using ofall twisted and bent wire which has heretofore gone to waste andresulting in a considerable saving in metal. The device also cleans therust from the wire and previous methods of hammering the wire areentirely overcome. It is also to be understood that in lieu of theconnection between the upper and lower jaws, any suitable pivoting orhinge connection may be employed so that the upper jaw will have properrelative movement with respect to the lower jaw.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding ofthe construction, operation, and advantages of my invention may be had,and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specificstructure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be madein said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wire straightening tool, comprising a lower jaw having a slotformed therein, an upper jaw having a reduced tongue extending throughthe slot to pivotally connect the upper jaw with the lower jaw andhaving side extensions serving as guiding means in respect to the lowerjaw, the wire engaging faces of the jaws being provided with cooperatingnotches forming wire receiving openings when the jaws are in a closedposition, a stem onnecting said jaws, resilient means on the stemnormally separating the jaws, a cam carried by the stem and having anoperating lever adapted to move the same into engagement with one ofsaid jaws for forcing said jaws together, and means for adjusting thetension of said spring on the stem.

2. A wire straightening tool comprising a lower jaw and an upper jaw,the wire engaging faces of the jaws being provided with cooperatingnotches forming wire receiving openings when the jaws are in a closedposition, one of said jaws having a slot formed in the shank portionthereof and the second jaw being provided with a reduced tongueextending through the slot to pivotally connect the jaws, side Wingsguiding the pivotal movement of the jaws, resilient means yieldablyholding the jaws in an open position, and means for moving the jaws to aclosed position against the action of the last mentioned means.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature hereto.

FRANK L. CERVENKA

